Stage effect.



`4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

F. D. THOMAS.

STAGE EFFECT.

APPLIOATION FILED HAY 7, '1910.

z-v lilifliilllllllmlm" lllikiimnln @web Olmi-incasso: 7"' @L C/.M

P. D. THOMAS.

STAGE EFFECT.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 7. 1910.

97 1 ,4; 1 8. Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. D. THOMAS.

STAGE EFFECT. APPLIOATIONHLBD MAY 7. 1910.

971,418. Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

All

F. D. THOMAS.

STAGE EFFECT.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 0.

971,418. Patented sepas?, 1910.

4 SHEET SSSSSSS 4.

. full, clear,

pliances and has for an have the screen u FRANK' D. THOMAS, NEW YORK, N. Y.

STAGE EFFECT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

Application led May 7, 1910. Serial No. 560,007.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,.residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage Effects; and I do hereby declare the following to be a and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to theatrical apobject to provide the combination of moving objects and moving pictures forming a single scene with part of the moving picture shown in front of the moving objects or in other words nearer the foot lights before such moving objects.

A further object of the invention is to pon which a moving picture is thrown divided in sections or curved to occupy planes differently distant from the audience with means for exhibiting moving objects between such planes.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a main screen upon which the moving picture is thrown and in front of which a moving object or objects are displayed with other auxiliary screens or ground rows in front of such moving objects or between such moving objects and the foot-lights which take a part of the-moving picture, thereby cutting off from the main screen such art.

A rther object of the invention is to provide in combination with a main screen for receiving a moving picture of a ground row disposed in front of such screen and composed of laminations of gauze of different widths or otherwise decreasing from opacity at the bottom to substantial transparency at 4the top whereby defined shadows on the main screen are prevented.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. l

In the drawings 'Figure 1 is a-view in front elevation of a scene embodying a main screen, a ground row, and moving objects here shown als human beings between such ground row and the main screen. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of the scene 'as shown at Fig. l'showing the employment vided with of two ground rows with gauze tops receiving the moving picture from a projecting lantern and cutting olf from the main screen certain portions of such moving picture. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a. means for mounting a moving object here shown as a boat occupied by human beings between the ground row and the main screen. Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the combination of two ground rows progauze tops with a fragment of a main screen at the rear of such ground rows. Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section of two of the ground rows of different height shown provided with gauze tops. Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section of a slightly different embodiment of the scene whereby the main screen is curved at the bottom outwardly toward the foot-lights with a moving object inserted through such curved screen so that part of the screen is in front of the moving object or between such moving object and the foot-lights, such figure also showing the use of a lantern for projecting a spot light upon the moving object to kill the moving picture at that point. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section of the use of a plurality of ground rows with a screen inclined in front of such ground rows and a moving object inserted upwardly through such screen being thereby a combination of the device as shown 'at Figs. 2 and 6. j

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a main screen 10 is provided having an oH-set portion 11 and upon the top of such off-set portion a platform 12 upon which human beings as 13 may move. In front of the section 11 of the main screen is erected a ground row 14 and in front of that a silnilar but lower ground row 15. Between the ground row 14 and the screensection 11 space is provided for a moving object as a human being 16, it being necessary to elevate such being by any convenient means as shown at 17. Between the ground rows 14 and 15 a space is provided for other'moving objects as the human being 18. It has been found that ground rows erected in front of the main screen properly receive their allotted portion of moving pictures projected as from the lantern 19 but by reason of the opaque condition of such screens a shadow is cast upon the main iol screen which renders the illusion less perl feet. To prevent the casting of such shadow or at least of a deined shadow the ground rows 14 and 1 5 are provided at their upper edges with gauze 20, several thicknesses of such gauze being attached to the top of the ground row proper of different widths so that the top or upper edge of the completed ground row is composed of only a single thickness of such gauze through which the light will penetrateland by reason of the gradual decreasin inrthicknesses will prevent the casting o defined shadow.

At Fig. 3 between the screen 11 and the ground-row 14 a frame 21 is erected upon which is mounted a boat 22 in such manner as to be moved manually or mechanically and in which human beings may be seated,

others being without the boat as indicated at such gure. It has been found also that where movable and animate objects appear in front of the screen and the moving picture is thrown upon such object that the objects themselves take a certain portion of the picture which mars the illusion. For this purpose it has beeiifound that by use of; a projecting lantern as 23 as shown at Fig. 6, a spot light may be thrown uponsuch movable or animate objects as indicated therein and such light being so much greater in brilliancy than the light thrown by the moving picture apparatus killsvthe moving picture and also brings out the object itse f with the movin icture dominated thereby. As shown also at Fig. 6 the screen 24 is curved so that its lower edge is adjacent the foothts-and the movable or animate object indicated b the boeg 22 1s inserted upwardly throu the scr en.

This accomplishes to a certain extent and,

in some respects, in a more desirable manner, the object intended by the use of the glround rows in that it provides a screen in ont of the movable object for receiving a portion of the moving picture scene and when the scene is killed'upon the object itself by the spot-light, such picture is shown both in front and behind the object brought out by the spot light.

As shown at Fig. 7 ground rows 25 are shown with an auxilia screen 26 sloping downwardly in front o, such ground rows with the movable object as `the boat 22 inserted therethrough which accomplishes the same purpose as described in reference to Figs. 2 and dcombined., l

Properly speaking the. present invention then consists of the em loyinent of movable or animate objects wi .a screen or other means both in front and in rear of such rnovable and'animate objects for reeivingI anioving picture and w`th' or without the use of the spot light apparatus for'killing the moving picture as projected upon'such moving or animate objects.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a movable object, of means adapted to receive complementary portions of the same moving picture scene in front and back of the movable object.

2. The combination with a movable object, of means to receive complementary portions of a moving picture scene upon opposite sides of the movable object, and means to obliterate the moving picture scene where it strikes the movable object.

3. The combination with a screen adapted to receive a moving picture scene, of a screen section located in front of the first-mentioned screen, and providing a space for the introduction of aY movable object.

4. The combination .with a main 'screen adapted to receive a movin picture scene,

Aof a screen section located in front of the plane of the main screen and adapted to receive 'a portion of the moving picture scene and-providing space between the plane of the main screen and the screen section for the introduction of a moving object.

5. The combination with a main screen, of a screen section disposed in front of the main screen, such screens being adapted to receive complementary portions of the same moving picture scene and provide a space. for the introduction of a'movable object, and means to obliterate the moving picture scene cast upon the moving object.

6.- The combination with a screen adapt-V ed to receive a moving picture, of a ground row located in front of and spaced from the screen and positioned to receive a portion of the moving picture scene cast upon the main screen.

' 7. The combination with a. main screen adapted to receive a moving picture scene, of a plurality of ground rows disposed `in front 'of and spaced from the main screen and Aof diderent heights, and positioned to receive complementary portions of the scene projected upon themain screen.

8. The combination with a main screen' front ofthe main screen and of di'erent..

heights adapted toxreceive complementary ortions of the moving picture scene pro'- iic jected upon the main screen and providing a j pluralitycof spaces adapted to permit the introduction of a plurality of movable ob- -jects into the scene.

10 The combination with a moving picture scene, of a movable object in front of and formin a portion of the scene, and means to ob iterate the portion of the moving picture projected upon the movable ob- Ject.

1l. The combination with a moving picture scene disposed in different planes relative to the proscenium arch, and providing means for the introduction of a movable object into the scene, and means to obliterate the portion of the moving picture scene cast upon the moving object.

12. The combination with -a moving picture scene, of a ground row disposed in front of the scene, and composed of material opaque at the bottom and decreasing in opacity to transparency at the top.

13. The comblnation with a screen adapted to receive projected rays, of an auxiliary screen disposed between the screen and the projecting means, such auxiliarycreen belng opaque at the bottom and decreasing in opacity to transparency at the top.

14. The combination with a screen adapted to recelve projected rays, of an auxillary screen covering a portion of the main screen and adapted to receive .a portion of the prov jected rays, suchl auxiliary screen being opaque at one edge and decreasing in opacity to transparency at the other edge. v

l5. A screen adapted to receive projected rays composed of opaque material at one sido with the opposite side composed of a plurality of laminations of gauze of different Widths.

16. A screen adapted to receive projected rays composed of material opaque at one side with the opposite side terminating in a plurality of strips of fabric, combined thicknesses of which decrease with single fabric at the extreme edge.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK D. THOMAS. Witnesses:

ARTHUR J. SHELDoN, JEAN C. HANEY. 

